Fertilizer stashed in warehouses, farmers return empty-handed

In Sundarganj, Gaibandha, growing anxiety surrounds a fertilizer shortage among farmers during the Aman season. Standing in line for hours at dealer points and retail outlets to purchase essential fertilizer, many are forced to return empty-handed. In some places, allocations fall far short of demand, while in others, farmers spend days visiting dealer shops without success. Out of necessity, many are resorting to buying fertilizer at inflated prices from the black market. Meanwhile, administrative drives continue to uncover massive stashes of hoarded fertilizer one location after another.

Most recently, on Monday night, the upazila administration conducted a raid on a warehouse in Shobhaganj Market under Chhaprahati Union, seizing 209 bags of fertilizer. Allegations suggest these bags were stockpiled to sell to farmers at exorbitant prices. Consequently, the business owner was fined Tk30,000.

Prior to this, on August 24, a raid on an outlet in Mirganj Market under the municipal town uncovered hoarded fertilizer, resulting in a Tk10,000 fine. Earlier still, on August 21, local residents intercepted 12 bags of fertilizer at Nagar Kathgara Market under Bamandanga Union.

Farmers allege that essential fertilizer is failing to reach their hands despite piles of bags being discovered with hoarders. This raises pressing questions among them: is there a genuine fertilizer shortage in the upazila, or is an artificial crisis being systematically engineered? They have also voiced serious concerns regarding transparency in the distribution system.

Motaleb Sarkar, a farmer from Bamandanga Union, said, "There is a specific time to apply fertilizer to the fields. What are we supposed to do if there is no fertilizer in the shops when we need it? Then later, we hear that bags upon bags of fertilizer were kept hoarded somewhere. Why isn't there any fertilizer for us then?"

Another farmer, Mojibar Rahman, echoed similar concerns, saying, "Although we are supposed to receive fertilizer at government-fixed rates, we are forced to buy it at higher prices from the retail market under the pretext of a shortage. Given how much fertilizer is being uncovered in administrative raids, the entire distribution process needs to be investigated."

However, the Department of Agricultural Extension presents a different account, claiming there is no fertilizer crisis in the upazila. Upazila Agriculture Officer Kaiyum Chowdhury said that fertilizer allocations match the demand for the Aman season. Approximately 1,300 metric tons of fertilizer were distributed in August, with plans to distribute another 1,100 metric tons this month. Additional allocations have also been requested based on demand.

Despite these statements from agricultural officials, persistent reports of shortages on the ground have brought not just the supply, but the entire distribution mechanism under intense scrutiny. Farmers allege that once news of a shortage spreads, certain individuals procure more fertilizer than necessary to hoard or resell later. Allegations have also surfaced regarding fertilizer being amassed through familiar farmers or middlemen to be handed over to traders.
According to farmers, fertilizer is even being collected using hired individuals. A syndicate receives advance notice as soon as fertilizer arrives at dealer points. They then arrange for 8 to 10 people—sometimes even more—from various areas to stand in line. Many of these hired individuals do not own land, nor are they involved in farming. Farmers allege that these surrogate buyers are paid 200 to 250 BDT for every bag of fertilizer they collect.

Shahidul Islam, a farmer from Chhaprahati Union, claimed, "Solvent farmers can somehow manage to procure fertilizer; however, when marginal farmers fail to get it on time, their entire crop season is put at risk."

The agriculture department, however, believes that alongside real shortages, rumors and panic are further complicating the situation. Whenever news spreads that fertilizer will not be available, many rush to buy far more than they actually need ahead of time. This creates sudden, overwhelming surges of crowd pressure at dealer points.

Upazila Agriculture Officer Kaiyum Chowdhury stated, "Drives against illegal hoarding are underway in various locations. To prevent fertilizer from slipping into the black market, local assistant agriculture officers have been deployed at dealer points for verification. However, identifying hired individuals amid large, dense crowds remains difficult."

Maintaining that there is no genuine fertilizer shortage, he urged farmers not to pay attention to rumors and to refrain from purchasing more fertilizer than they actually require.